Out Of Work Again

[jonp]

Well, I'm unemployed bas of today once again. The job I took after being "downsized" just wasn't making any money. $500-$600 week gross is silly for a full-time truck driver. I gave it 5 months and pulled the plug. When you can make more from unemployment then the job might not be worth it. So, wife and I have all the parts for a complete bathroom rebuild and that is what I'm going to do. Next 2 weeks rip it down leaving nothing but the roof. New footing, heated floor etc then 2 weeks up north for her vacation then look for a job coming August.

It would cost me upwards of $10,000 to hire some to do the work, less than $5,000 for me to take time off and do it myself so financially it's a better move if I quit, rebuild it then find a job.

If you read my thread about being downsized this spring then you will get part of the satisfaction I got this week. New boss took over who has no experience in trucking. Fired the terminal manager, downsized me, then tried to hire people at at a lesser payrate. Of the four, one is out on workers comp and the other 3 quit. Re-negotiated a rate increase with the customer, pulled trailers out they wanted for storage, fired another terminal manager and lost the account to someone else. 1 Aug and a new carrier steps in. Seems like Fate to me as I will find out who they are and apply. Looks kinda like what I was pointing out on that account over the last 5 years was right but no one wanted to listen to a lowly, stupid truck driver with 30 yrs experience. 5 terminal managers in 5 years, 10 new drivers that hired and quit then losing the account over a new boss that is an idiot. But hey, maybe he has a degree in logistics! No, actually a degree in child psychology. Me? Just PLDC in Military, running a platoon of Airborne Troopers, Degree in Wildlife Management, Staff Biologist in an Environmental Consulting Company in charge of a crew of 10 then 30 yrs in a truck over all of the US and Canada. Not much to offer so why listen to me? What do I know about running men or trucking?

[MT Chambers]

I worked for a power company that was tied into the Gov., you talk about stupid managers, that outfit would be bankrupt in a month if it was on it's own! Anyhow good luck on your endeavours, I'm sure things will work out and you will have a new house.

[Winger Ed.]

I've always been fascinated seeing people (sort of) running companies that otherwise couldn't get a job parking cars.

[Geezer in NH]

How do you get unemployment when you quit?

[CastingFool]

I hope you enjoy your bathroom remodel. I redid one bathroom last February, tub replacement and tiled the surround all the way to the ceiling, new faucet. The master bathroom I redid about 3-4 yrs ago, and that was a complete remodel from the floor joists on up. Tiled walk in shower, new toilet, new vanity, new Grohe faucet,new exhaust fan and lights, tiled floor. Have been told it would have cost $15k to do, only spent about 4k in materials, but it did take me a looong time to complete.

[jonp]

How do you get unemployment when you quit?

Won't unless I use the CARE Act. A little sentence in that says you can get money if you "feel unsafe in your work environment". Not planning on taking advantage of that as of yet

[Winger Ed.]

but it did take me a looong time to complete.


I did a remodel of our bathroom years ago.
As I was doing the tile squares in the tub enclosure, my buddy commented that he'd done theirs, and it was a real pain.

A week or two later: Over at his house he said something about tiling around the shower/tub again--
His wife shouted from the other room, "Yeah,,, and it only took him 2 YEARS to do it"!!

[jonp]

NO TILE SQUARES. Been there, done that no t-shirt. Heated waterproof laminate floor, opening up the ceiling to follow the rafters for more height, waterproof sheetrock walls with a texture covering

Going to do it not platform style but off the footing with PT 2x6 walls balloon. 12ft wall height so should be good

[dragon813gt]

I feel your pain when it comes to managers that have no clue what they’re doing. Our corporate structure is full of accountants at all levels. They are directly in charge of a service division for industrial equipment. I bet you can guess how well that’s going.

All the Field Service Supervisors quit their positions and went back to being technicians. This prevented a massive pay cut and got them out of the cross hairs. They were all guys that were in the field for 25+ years and some of them have been at the company for 35+ years. And who did they hire for replacements? People from outside the industry that have absolutely no clue about what we do. They’re more concerned about checking every item on a Home Depot receipt, they think we’re buying things for ourselves, then keeping the customers happy. I bet you can guess how well that’s going.

Companies have forgotten about promoting from within. They don’t listen to guys that have the experience. They’re more worried about hiring someone w/ a degree. And it doesn’t have to be related to the job. Just has to be a piece of paper that says you’re $80k in debt. It’s not wonder companies fail at the rate they do.

Good luck w/ the bathroom remodel. I need to redo mine. But I’m waiting until the kids are older. The little one thinks the water isn’t supposed to stay in the tub so I only want to fix the floor once.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Won't unless I use the CARE Act. A little sentence in that says you can get money if you "feel unsafe in your work environment". Not planning on taking advantage of that as of yet
I thought that runs out at the end of the month

[Wag]

I thought that runs out at the end of the month

It does. Good chance it will be renewed somehow, but for the moment, it's set to expire on 7/31.

--Wag--

[Idaho45guy]

I'm looking for a career change and considering trucking. Had a CDL back in `98 with hazmat and tanker endorsements. Had to let it go in Arizona about ten years ago when I couldn't find a doctor to give me a medical cert in time when my wallet was stolen.

But, I'd have to start over getting a CDL. Sounds like going to a company as a new driver and letting them pay for my schooling means the worst routes and pay, and at 51 years old, I have run out of patience dealing with stupid people. So the chances of finding a regional job with home time on weekends and no routes in big cities as a greenhorn driver seems pretty unlikely.

Might just get back into insurance adjusting.

[Lloyd Smale]

that's odd. I thought the truck drivers were working OT in most places. heck the ups guy showed up in his own pickup yesterday. Said there so swamped that there paying employees milage to use there own trucks because they don't have enough.

[jonp]

I'm looking for a career change and considering trucking. Had a CDL back in `98 with hazmat and tanker endorsements. Had to let it go in Arizona about ten years ago when I couldn't find a doctor to give me a medical cert in time when my wallet was stolen.

But, I'd have to start over getting a CDL. Sounds like going to a company as a new driver and letting them pay for my schooling means the worst routes and pay, and at 51 years old, I have run out of patience dealing with stupid people. So the chances of finding a regional job with home time on weekends and no routes in big cities as a greenhorn driver seems pretty unlikely.

Might just get back into insurance adjusting.

Number of those jobs out there but I'd like to be home during the week. I bet you can find one

[jonp]

I thought that runs out at the end of the month

It does and if you re-read my post you will see I plan on taking July off and finding something in August.

The job was fine, it was the pay that stank.

[Pressman]

Jon, good luck on your remodeling and finding new work. Unfortunately I let my CDL expire when I retired, didn't think I would need it again. How wrong I was.
Leading a single life and really missing the wheel and a stick, looking at the world through a windshield.
Enjoy it while you can.
Ken

[waksupi]

It does and if you re-read my post you will see I plan on taking July off and finding something in August.

The job was fine, it was the pay that stank.

If that pay didn't suit you, wait until you get on social security!

[lightman]

I'm sorry to hear this, my Friend! Enjoy your time off and the remodel. I'm sure you will find something when you start looking. Wishing you the best.

[dverna]

Good luck sir.

for others, I know a guy working for Fed-Ex. They are desperate for drivers. No CDL just a Chauffer's license. Pay is $125/day for the first two weeks of training and then $145/day. I have thought about splitting a route with someone and working 3 days a week.

[jonp]

If that pay didn't suit you, wait until you get on social security!

That's what I'm looking forward to. 5-7 yrs more then retire. I need tosock away all the money I can now and the pay I was getting just was not going to get it done

[375supermag]

Good luck sir.

for others, I know a guy working for Fed-Ex. They are desperate for drivers. No CDL just a Chauffer's license. Pay is $125/day for the first two weeks of training and then $145/day. I have thought about splitting a route with someone and working 3 days a week.

Hi...
I understand how you feel...I am retired and thought about applying for a job doing deliveries for about half a second but then good sense got the better of me and I got busy in the reloading room.
The very idea of returning to the work force was so traumatic I had to go buy a new revolver to ease my mind and reduce my stress level.
I don't ever want to experience such a mind numbing panic attack again...but I do enjoy the treatment. I will probably be taking additional treatments in the future for preventative measures...just in case I ever have an idle thought about returning to work again.

[Idaho45guy]

Good luck sir.

for others, I know a guy working for Fed-Ex. They are desperate for drivers. No CDL just a Chauffer's license. Pay is $125/day for the first two weeks of training and then $145/day. I have thought about splitting a route with someone and working 3 days a week.

Yeah, if that's an 8-hour day, which I doubt it is, then that's only $15 to $18 an hour, which isn't too bad. Much less than what I get now, though. McDonald's starts you off at $11.25 an hour around here.

[Lloyd Smale]

I just talked to the fed x driver last week. He showed up at my house at 8pm. I said to him you must be making a heck of a lot of money with ot. He said he gets paid a flat rate. doesn't matter if his deliverys for the day take 4 hours or 18! No ot. NO BENIFITS. He said most of there drivers don't even work for fed x there sub contracted. He said many days hed make more at mc donalds per hour. Now ups is a much better operation. At least those guys get over time pay and retirement and medical.
Good luck sir.

for others, I know a guy working for Fed-Ex. They are desperate for drivers. No CDL just a Chauffer's license. Pay is $125/day for the first two weeks of training and then $145/day. I have thought about splitting a route with someone and working 3 days a week.

[Lloyd Smale]

factor in a fed x driver making 140 bucks a day working a 12 hour day and having to use some of that money to pay for insurance and medical costs for his family and gaining not a penny toward retirement and you can see why people sit on welfare. All the while fed x is making billions because everyone buys on line because there afraid of going to the store! Must be nice when your business doubles buy your employee costs stay the same per day.

[jsizemore]

The Triangle is getting to be like Florida. Lots of folks competing for jobs so the pay is low and the only way around it is to work more hours or live poor with little for the future. But, if you want to work, there's always a job. I hope you find something good, or start your own.